Tara Nickels, Ph.D.
About Tara Nickels, Ph.D.
Tara Nickels, Ph.D., is the Passenger Vehicle Oils Product Line Manager at ExxonMobil, with extensive experience in product line management and research in the oil industry.
Title and Current Role
As of 2022, Tara Nickels, Ph.D., serves as the Passenger Vehicle Oils Product Line Manager at ExxonMobil, based in Spring, Texas, United States. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing and managing the diverse product lines within the Passenger Vehicle Oils segment, ensuring cohesive integration and transition of new products.
Previous Experience at ExxonMobil
Tara Nickels has built a significant portion of her career at ExxonMobil, holding various pivotal roles. From 2020 to 2022, she was the Product Line Manager for Industrial, Grease, & Gas Engine Oil, also located in Spring, Texas. Prior to this, she worked as a Field Engineer from 2017 to 2020 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Earlier roles include Senior Researcher and Advanced Researcher in Paulsboro, New Jersey, where she focused on research and development.
Educational Background
Tara Nickels achieved her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma, completing her studies from 2010 to 2015. She also earned a Master's of Science in Analytical Chemistry from the same institution in 2012, and a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry in 2010.
Academic and Teaching Experience
Prior to her extensive career in the oil and gas industry, Tara Nickels gained valuable teaching experience. She worked as an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at Rose State College from 2013 to 2015. Additionally, she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Oklahoma from 2010 to 2015, and a Laboratory Assistant in the Instructional Laboratory Stockroom from 2009 to 2010.
Market Strategy and Product Management Expertise
In her current and previous roles at ExxonMobil, Tara Nickels has demonstrated expertise in managing and integrating complex product lines. Notably, she contributed to the development of strategies aimed at expanding the market reach of Passenger Car Oils in North America. Her proficiency also spans across managing Industrial Oils, Gas Engine Oils, Greases, and Drive Line oils.